Alarm system.



W. H. KIRNAN.

ALARM SYSTEM.

Umlauten HLBD JULYao. 190s.

THE NoRms PETERS co., wAsHmGra. n. c.

Y W. H. 'KILNAN ALARM SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED JULY so. 190s.

91 1,01 6. A Patented Jan. 26, 1909.

B SHEBTSf-BEBET 2.

V W. H. KIRNAN.

ALARM SYSTEM.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 30. 1908.

Patented Jan. 26, 1909.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

W. H. KIRNAN.

v ALARM SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED JULY 30. 1908.

Patented Jem. 26, 1909.

v SHEETS-SHEET 4.

W. H. 'KIRNABL ALARM SYSTEM;

APPLICATION FILED'JULY 30. 190s.

Patented Jan. 26, 1909.

e SHEETS-SHEET 5.

WVM/woes W. HQKIRNAN.

ALARM SYSTEM. APPLIOATION FILED JumraoI 190s.

, 91 1,01 6. I Patented Jan. 26, 1909.

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59 Y la y K Inventor l W W 15./ //f/mw fm: nomas r'snms co.. wnsnmamgv. u. c.

nn sans i n WILLIAM H. KIRNAN, OF'BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY.

ALARM SYSTEM'.

Specification o1- Letters Patent.

Patented .T an. 26, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM I-I. KIRNAN,

a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Bayonne, county of Hudson, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements vin AlarmV Systems of which the following is a full, clear, and eXact description.

My invention relates to improvements in fire alarm systems and the like, and has for its object to rovide a system for receiving simultaneouslp various sending stationsconnected by ,different circuits and to automatically transmit one of said signals to the various engine v houses, meanwhile preventing the other signals which are being received from interfering with such transmission.

My invention further has for its object to provide means whereby such signalscan be transmitted to the engine houses over a joker line or a gong line, or simultaneously over both the joker line and the gong line, and also yprovide means whereby the appa-V ratus normally on the gong line can be switched onto and actuated through the joker line and signals sent to either the joker apparatus or gong apparatus at separate times without confusion. rhis is in case of the gong line being broken and inoperative.

It further has for its object to accomplish similar results by switching the joker apparatus over on the gong line in cases where the joker line isbrolren or inoperative. joker apparatus is the apparatus which normally receives automatic calls. rlhe gong normally responds to signals sent manually from the central station. l

Another object of my invention is to provide for the manual transmission of a signal from the central receiving station to the various enginel houses and to prevent the automatic transmission from interfering with the manual transmission.

The Vfollowing is a description of my invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows the receiving and transmitting apparatus of the central station and the receiving apparatus in one enginehouse, together with the circuits connected thereto. Figs. 1a, 1b, 1, ld, le show details. Fig. 2 shows a modification of the manual transmission apparatus and engine house apparatus, together with aV modified circuit arrangement. In this form the current is reyv a number of signals fromrEhe j' versed for operating the gong. Fig. 3 shows modifications of the central station receiving and transmitting apparatus. Fig. 4 shows a modication of the system, so as to adapt it to repeating signals to several stations without the assistance of an attendant. Fig. 5 shows a modified detail of the system of Fig. l.` Figs. 6 and 7 are diagrams.

Referring more ings, Figs. 1, A A:a A3 are three pairs of central station relay magnets, connected to separate local alarm circuit terminals B B', B2 B2, B3 B3, the respective airs of terminals being the terminals to whic) the alarm boxes and circuits are connected, one such `circuit containing alarm boxes C C and battery C2 being shovm diagrammatically. Each of the relay magnets A A2 and A3 is provided withV an armature and circuit controlling devices, the construction in each instance being the same. It will, therefore, be necessary to describe in detail the armature and circuit controlling devices of only one of these relays. In front of each of the relay magnets A A2 and `A3 is an armature 1, rigidly secured to and carried by an arm 2, which arm is preferably rigidly connected to a shaft` 3 supported by bearings 3 3. The arm 2is normally retracted by a spring 4, and carries atits upper end a contact 5 insulated from the arm, which, when the arm is retracted, engages a contact 6, thereby establishing a recording circuit through the local recording instrument, this circuit being as follows: contact 5, contact 6, battery 7, starting magnet 8, recording magnet 9 controlling switch 10, contact 5. i The contacts of the other relays corresponding to the contacts 5 and 6 are in multiple therewith, and the recording ma nets 92 93 are also in multiple with one anot er. Thercontrolling mage net 8 is, however, in series with all of the magnets 9v 92 93 and with the battery 7, so that it is-energized whenever any one of the recording magnets is energized. The circuits from the alarm boxes C through the several relay magnets A A2 A3 are normally closed, and the armatures l are therefore each normally attracted by its relay magnet so that the recording circuits are normally broken at their contacts 5 6. As a signal is sent in over an alarm circuit from one of the boxes C for instance, the `relay magnet A causes the arm 2 to vibrate and thus energize the startinglmagnet S and the recording magnet 9, which acts to record the number of im.

particularly to the drawpulses and hence the signal received from the box in the well known Way by the recording device 11.

Loosely mounted upon the shaft 3 is a second arm 12, Which lies betvfeen the magnet A' and its armature 1, or so as to be moved by the armature 1 nfhen it is attracted by its relay magnet A'. rlhis ar a 12 has connected to it a retracting spring 13 and carries at its upper end an insulated spring contact 14, which engages a stationary contact 15, the contacts controlled by the several other relays corresponding to 14n-15: being connected in series therewith and with one another and Wit-h a repeating or transmitting and controlling relay 16 and battery 17. peating circuit controlled by these contacts is as tollovcs: battery 17, magnet 16, conductor 18, contact 14, stationary contact 15, conductor 18', contact 14', contact 15', and soforth', back to battery 17. rl.`he contacts 14 andl 15 etc. are normally closed, so that the magnet 16 is normally energized and its armature attracted. lf for any reason it is desired to cut out of service one set of the relay magnet contacts, such as 14-15, Without disturbing the other parts of the system, this can be done by clesing the switch 19.

6=ar and 15' are back stops limiting movements of arms 2 and 12.

Vhenever one of the relays A' A2 A3, for instance A', is deenergized and its armature 1 retracted, the arm 12 being thereupon tree to move, breaks the circuit through the magnet 16=at the contacts 14 and 15. lVhen the circuit through the magnet 16 is thus broken, the magnet becomes denergized, and its armature 20, which operates an arn 21, rigidly secured to a shaft 22, is retracted by its s rin@ 23. The vshatt 22 is thereby rotated slightly and the spring prfls 24 are drar-fn back so as to release the rear ends of interlocking or controlling levers 25, mounted in bearings 26. These controlling levers have springs 27, vyhich, u hen their rear endsare released by the pav'ls 24, cause their front ends to move upv ardly so as to pass behind the loi. er ends of the arms 12, v hen the arms 12r (as shonn in Fig. 1d) are held up by the armatures of the magnet. llilhen, horx ever, any relay magnet A' A2 A3 is denergizedv so that its armature 1 is not held up by the mage net, but is retracted by its spring 4, the lovqer endv of the arm 12 moves above the outer end of thelever 25, (as shovn in Fig. 1 C) thereby preventing the upvrard movement et the outer end of the lever 25, Which v-Could ether- Wise take place by reason of the spring 27. The result is, that vhen a signal is being received by the relay A' for instance, the relay A' becomes dener ized, so that its armature 1, together with t e arms 2 and 12, is retracted. The'circuit through the magnet 16 is thereby broken at the contacts 14 and 15,

the

The re and the armature 2O released so that the detents 24 are Witlulravfn. The arm 12 of the relay A' being retracted, prevents any movement of the lever 25, While the corresponding arms of the other relays are not retracted, because those relays uhich are energized do not interfere 1with the movement of their lever 25, and the forward ends ol' those levers therefore rise so as to come behind the lon er ends et those arms 12 and prevent their act ing until the levers 25 are reset, they period being long enough to enable the street box to iinisli sending in its signal.

lt is to be noted that the magnet 16 is controlled: by the several arms 12, and that the recording` magnets 9' Sl are controlled respectively by the arms 2. The arms 12 can be locked out ol action, as above described. rlhe arms 2, however, are all ol'- them l'ree to respond to Whatever impulses are received 'lrom they alarm boxes. ll a signal is being received from only one alarm box, the arm 12 will actuate the relay magnet 16 accordingly, and the arm 2 will actuate the corresponding recording magnet Q' El 13. l1' a 1`ter the first signal has started, another signal is sent in `from another alarm circuit, vlor instance the alarm circuit o1l relay A, the arm 12' ol' that relay will belocked out o1' action, but the arm 2 will be actuated so as to record the signal through the recording apparatus Q2. ll two signals should be sent in simultaneously over two separate signal circuits, so that the relays A1 and A, l'or instance, are, simultaneously energized and decnergized, the arms 2' and 12 oi' both olI these relays will act in unison so long as the impulses which they receive are in unison. Vllhen, however, these impulses get out ol unison, they relay magnet Which next receives an im pulse is automatically locked out ol' action, because, that impulse will move its lever 12 so as lo permit the corresponding lever 25 to rise behind it, that lever being lree to act, because the magnet 16 is still denergired on account ol its circuit being broken at the relay A and the spring pawls being tl'iereby retracted. Roth relays, however, as above described, will continue to record' their signals to their respective recording apparatus.

rlhe recording apparatus has a shalt 2S drivenA by any convenient poner 2) and carrying a screw-thread 3() `which engages a tooth 31 carried by an arm 32 pivoted in a bearing 33, which in turn is carried by a shalt 34. A spring 35 tends to dranv it tonv ard the screw 3() and a spring 36 tends to drav.`Y it toward the right hand end thereof, this movement being permitted by the mounting above described. tion 37, which, when the tooth 31 engages the left hand end ot the screw 30, is engaged by a locking lever 3S, which engagement arrests the movement o'l' the shalt 28. When the starting magnet 8 is energized, a pin 3Q,

The arm 32 also carries a projecactuated by its armature, engages a beveled rojection 40 carried by the arm 32, and iorces the arm 32 backward, so that the finger 31 disengages the screw 30. The arm 32 is then moved to the right by the spring 36 and the arm 37 disengages the lockingV lever 38. The shaft 28 thereupon at once begins to revolve, and, together with the ink rollers mounted thereon, continues to revolve until automatically stopped. After the ringer 31 has been withdrawn from the screw-thread 30, and the spring 36 has drawn it to the right, it again engages the screw-thread 30. W henever the magnet 8 is denergized or energized, it is again withdrawmsothat it does not remain in enga ement with the screw 30 for any considerab e time, unless the magnetic condition of the magnet 8 remains unchanged for a considerable time. When the magnetic condition of the magnet8 does remain unchanged for a considerable time, a condition which arises when no signal is being sent in from an alarm boX, orwhen an alarm box circuit has been broken, the linger 31 remains in engagement with the screw 30 for a period during which the screw 30 will move the lever 32 to the lett until the locking lever 38 engages the projection v37, which will result in the stopping of the shaft 28 and also result in causing the cam surface 37 a (Figs. 1, le) to engage contact 41 and thereby close a local circuit at the contacts 41 and 42 for thepurpose hereinafter described. The cam surface 37areleases the contact 41 before the lever 38 engages the projection 37. During the interval between the sending in of two signals from the alarm boxes, the magnet 8 will be denergized. 1f an alarm circuit is broken, the magnet 8 will be energized until the fault is corrected. Whether the magnet 8 be energizedor denergized for considerable periods, its'failure to change the magnetic conditionwill result in the stopping of the shalt 28 inthe manner above described. 1l' the circuit from an alarm box is interrupted, that will be evident upon Vthe condition oi its relay, rand the attendant can interrupt the local circuit through the corresponding recording magnet by opening the switch 10.

In order to automatically re-set the levers 25 when one signal is being recorded by the recording apparatus 9 92 93, I provide a resetting relay magnet 43 in the local circuit having a battery 44. This relay magnet actuates an armature 45, which is rigidly connected to a shalt 46, which carries depending arms 47 47 These arms are adapted to engage respectively with set-screws 48 and 49, the iirst being carried by the arm 12 and the second being carried by a projection on the lever 25. The armature 45 is normally retracted by the spring 5() so as to hold the depending arms 47 away Vfrom the set screws 48 and 49. v When the local circuit of the magnet 43 is closed at the contacts 41 and 42, by the cam surface 37 a on the projection 37 the armature 45 is attracted and the arms l47 are brought into engagement with their set screws 48 and 49 so las to torce the lower ends ol the arms 12 Voutward against the action oi their springs 13 and torce the inner ends oi the lever 25 upward against the action ol their springs 27. `When the ends of the lever 25 are 'forced upwards, the spring pawls 24 yield so that the inner ends pass above them and are retained thereb. 'Thea )aratus is therebv .Y pl J re-set in condition to receive further signals. 1n series with the battery 17 1s a tell-tale Vrecording magnet 51, which actuatcs a recording armature 52 and records every time the circuit to the batteriT 17 is interrupted, thus recording all the operations of the relay magnet 16 and its armature. ri`he movements oi the armature 20ct the relay 16 correspond to and control the signals which are automatically sent from the main central station to the engine houses. The magnet 51 thereby records all the signals which are automatically transmitted to the engine houses. The transmission of theV signals tov the engine houses is brought about by the opening and closing ol a transmission circuit controlled by the joker circuit contacts 53 and 54, the latter being moved into and out ot engagement with the former by an anti-friction roller 55 carried on the upper end of the arm 21. The contact 53 is electrically connected with a switch arm 56, which normally bears upon a contact electrically connected by a conductor leading to the switch arm 57 and to another contact 121. The switch arm 57 bears upon a contact vwhich is electrically connected to the winding of a relay 58, and through it to the winding ci" a polarized relay 59, which in turn is connected to a contact 60, upon which bears the switch arm 61. The switch arm 61. is connected to a contact 62 upon which bears a switch arm 63, which is electrically connected by the conductor 64 of a contact 65. This contact 65 makes and breaks engagement with a contact 66, which is connected to stationary contacts 67 and 68.- lrom the contact 67 the circuit normally passes through the pivoted member 69, which by the spring 7 0 is held in normal engagement with the contact 67. Thence the circuit passes through the battery 71, movable contact 72, which by the spring 73 is held Vin "Y ture 81 ot therelay 58. The armature 79 is not spring retracted and therefore remains against the terminal toward which it was last attracted. The armature S1 is retracted by a spring 82 and is normally in engagement with a back stop 83 making engage ment with a contact 811 vhenever the relay magnet 5S is denergized. ililhen the relay 58 is denergized, the polarized. relayY is also denergized and its armature 79 is in engagement with a contact S5, which is in series with a joker bell mag' .et 86 actuating` the bell armature 87. From the magnet S0 the circuit passes by the conductor 88 to the switch arm 89. lWhenever the circuit is broken at the contacts 53 and 541, the circuit through the relay magnet 5S is broken, whereupon the spring 82 retracts the armature 81, causing it to engage the contact S4, and, since the armature 79 remains in engagement with the contact S5, a local circuit is completed through the joker bell magnet, as follows: battery S0, armature S1, contact 84, conductor 88, bell magnet 86, contact S5, polarized armature 79, back to battery S0. Whenever, therefore, the circuit is broken at the contacts 53 and 54, the local circuit to the battery actuates the hammer armature 87 oi' the joker bell. @ne signal which is received by the central station is therefore automatically sent ov r the joker circuit, and the joker bell is actuated accordingly.

The main gong bell magnet 90 has its circuit controlled by the gong circuit contacts 91-92, and is energized by the battery 93 in series therewith. The circuit -from the contact 91 is as follows: contact 91, battery switch arm 94, conductor 95, switch arm 90, contact 97, switch arm 98, switch arm 99, conductor 100, gong magnet 90, conductor 101, contact 102, switch arm 103, contact 104, switch arm 105, to Contact 92. 1n order to provide for the making and breaking of the circuit at the contacts 91-92, a manu all f controlled mechanism is provided consisting of a train ci gears 10e-107, geared to an escapement wheel 108, the train being driven by any suitable means. Gn the shaft or" the gear 107 is mounted a removable sional wheel 109, having projections which engage the beveled end ot the contact 91, so as to rorce it downward and cause it to make engagement with the contact 92, the engagements corresponding to the number of -projections upon the wheel 109, and sending signal to the main gong accordingly, the signal sent by the present wheel corresponding to the number thirty-two.

110 is the actuating handle of the manual transmitting mechanism, which when drawn downward, stores up the power for actuating the train. To this handle 110 is connected an arm 111, which has a Contact controlling arm 112. r1`his contact controlling arm,

when the handle 110 is in the normal position, bears against contact 113 and. siniarates it from the contact 114, lor the purpose hereinatter described. rllhe wheel carries a projection 115, which when the wheel 100 is in normal position, engages the under side olt the contact 05 and causes it to make engageh ment with the Contact 6G, for the purpose @tei-specified.

L is desired to manually transmit lillien it any particular number to the main gougs oi' the engine houses, a signal wheel 109 havingr the proper number ot projections selected and placed upon the shalt ol the wheel 107. The handle 110 is then pulled downward und the signal wheel closes the circuit between the contacts 91 and 92, which establishes a circuit through the battery .3 and the gong magnet 90, thus sounding the alarm on the main gong.

ln order to make it possible to ring the main gong over the oker circuit in case the gong circuit becomes disabled, additional switch arms mechanically connected to the switch arms S9 and 103 are provided, and two switch arms 11(1117 are provided with suitable contacts and conductors to establish the proper circuit connections. The switch arm 103 and its associated switch arms are noved to vthe right, as shown in Fig. 0, so that the switch arm 103 makes engagement with the contact 120. The switch arms 91 and are moved so that they make engagements .vith the contacts 121 and 123, as shown in Fig. 0, and the switch arms 116 and 117 are moved so that the switch arm 110 makes engagement with the contact 11S, as shown in liig. 0. '.lhe switch arms 1 10-A1 17 when they are moved so that the switch arm rests upon the Contact 11S, euses the battery 119 to energize the magnet 77, when the contacts 1.13 and 114.l come into engagement with one another upon the movement ol the handle 110, with the result that the armature 75 is attracted. The armature 75 uctuates the member GS, which is the movable portion of a circuit changer or reverser, reversing the terminals oi the battery 71 with relation to the circuit containing the couductors (Se and 7S and m: Diet 59. The mov ment ol the sw'itch arm 110 to the contact 118 thus reverse the polarity of the polarized relay 59 and causes its armature 79 to move over so :is to engage the contact S5. position last described, the circuit iroin the contacts 53 and 54 is the same as it was originally, except that the battery 71 has had its terminals reversed. The circuit trom the contacts 91 and 92 controlled by the signal wheel, is, however, as il'ollows: contact 91., battery 93, switch arm 941, contact 121, conductor 122, switch arm 57, relay 5S, polar relay 59, switch arm 01, contact 123, switch arm 105, to contact 92 (see Fig. G). lllhen the polarized relay lilith the switches in the the manual transmitting apparatus is in operation, the circuit through the contacts 53 and 54 is broken at the contacts 65 and 66, as above described, so that the automatic transmission cannot interfere with a signal which is being manually transmitted. As the circuit is made and broken at the contacts 91 and 92, the polarized relay armature 79 having been shifted so as to engage the contact 85 by the movement of the switch arm 116, the joker relay 53, whenever it is denergized so that its armature 31 engages the contact 84, closes a local circuit through the gong magnet 90, so that the gong is actuated through the joker transmission lines. This local gong 'circuit thus established is as follows: battery 30, armature 31, contact 84, switch arm 89, gong magnet 90, contact 102, switch arm 124, Contact 35, polarized armature 79, battery 80.

When it is desired to actuate the joker, or automatic apparatus, throughthe gong transmission lines, the switch arms 94 and 105 remain in the position shown in Fig. 1. The switch arms 56, 63, 116 and 117 are moved downward, so `as to engage the second pair of contacts, and the two sets of switch arms Vin the engine house are both moved to the right so as to engage their second set ofcontacts (see Fig. 7). connections of the battery are reversed, as before, by the movement of the switch arm 116, and the switch arms 63, 56, 94and 105 are all connected to the same pair of engine house mains, namely, the gong mains. v The circuit through these mains is as asfollows (see Fig. 7), beginning with the switch arms 63 and 94, to which the contacts 54 and 91 are respectively connected: switch arms63 and 94, conductor 95, switch arm 96, contact 125, relay magnet 53, polarized relay 59, contact 60, switch arm 93, switch arm 99, contact 126, contact 120, switch arm 103, conductor 127, switch arms 105 and56,-to which are respectively connected the contacts 92 and 53. As was the case when the gong line was broken, when the manualV transmitter is actuated, the armature 79 of the polarized relay 59 has been shifted, so as to engage contact 85, this being due to the movement ofthe switch 116 and the manual transmitter. The` result lis that whenever the circuit is made at the contacts 91 and 92 by the signal wheel 109, the armature is not being used, the circuit through theV relay magnet 58 is opened and closed at the contacts 53- and 54, and since the reversing When this is done, the

magnet .77 is cut out of action at that time by the disengagement of the contacts 113 and 114, brought about by the projection 112, the polarized relay armature 79 is in engagement with the contact 85, with the result that the battery 80, when the armature 81 engages the contact 84, is in circuit with the joker magnet 86 instead of with the gong magnet 90. The result is, that the signals which are transmitted automatically through the engagement and disengagement of the contacts 53 and 54 are received by the joker.

When the manual transmission mechanism is being used, the first movement of the handle 110 results in permitting the contacts 113 and 114 to come `together so as to close the circuit through the reversing magnet 77. As soon as the train in the manual transmission mechanism starts up, the rod 115, which is carried by the first wheel 106, leaves the contact 65 so as to permit it to separate from the contact 66. This is for the purpose of preventing a preliminary or false blow, such as would otherwise occur when the switch arm 117 was moved out of engagement with the contact on which it rests, as shown in Fig. 1. rihis is prevented by the engagement of the contacts 65-66 ,because such engagement short circuits the switch arm 117. Therefore the movement of this arm when the contacts 65-66 are in engagement, does not roduce any effect upon the circuit, of which the conductors 64 and 73 form branches, since the movement does not open the circuit through the battery, that being maintained closed by the contacts 65 and 66.

1n order to prevent the system being permanently disturbed by the accidental or malicious interruption of the alarm circuit which lenergizes the several relays A', A2, A3, a pawl 128 is provided having two arms, one of which, 129, rests on the upper end of the arm 2 when the armature 1 is attracted by the relay. The other arm, 130, extends over the upper end of the arm 12, and has a depending projection which is held away from the arm 12 when the arm 2 engages the under side of the arm 129, but moves downward so as to engage the upper end of the arm 12 when the arm 2 is retracted by its spring 4. The result of this is that when the relay A is denergized for an unduly long period, as would be the case when the alarm circuit was accidentally or maliciously interrupted, the arm 12, when it is restored to normal position by the action of the magnet 43 upon the closing of the contacts 41 and 42, will be caught by the projection on the arm 130 and held in such normal position, the arm 2 permitting the pawl 123 to act in this manner,

since it will remain in retracted position onv account of the magnet A being denergized. The fact that the magnet A is abnormally denergized will therefore not interfere with the operation ot the other parts of the system. The circuit through the recording magnet 9 will be closed, but this will not produce any disturbance, and moreover, as soon as the abnormal condition is observed, the attendant will open that circuit manually at the switch 16. In order that the arm 12 shall be brought up to the proper position by the armature 1 when the magnet A is energized, an adjusting screw 131 passing through the Varmature and bearing against the arm 12 is provided.

53a and 54a are auxiliary contacts which are controlled by the arm 21 ot the relay 16, for such use as may be desired. 1t is to be noted that these contacts are separated when the magnet 16 is energized, and engaged when the magnet 16 is deenergized.

In Fig. 2, l have shown a siightly different arrangement ot manual transmission mechanism and engine house mechanism and circuits, in combination with an automatic signal transmitting circuit operated by the central station apparatus shown in Fig. 1. ln this iigure, contacts 53 and and anti-triction roller 55 correspond to parts similarly lettered in Fig. 1. rEhe contacts 91 and Q2 and the manual transmitting mechanism, in cl-uding train 166, 107 and 103, signal wheel 109, handle 116, projection 111, pin 112 and contacts 113 and 114, also correspond to arts similarly lettered in Fig. 1. vi'r'hen the iandle is drawn down, the pin 112 moves from beneath the contact 11.3, permitting the contacts 113 and 114 to come into engagement and thereby short-eircuiting the contacts 53 and 54 when the switch 132 is closed. The switch 132 is open when the system is in normal condition. lrlhen the system is in normal condition, the circuit beginning at the contact 53 is as follows: contact 53, contacts 133 and 134, battery 135, contacts 136 and 137, conductor 133, switch arm 139, conductor 140, switch arm 141, polarized relay 142, relay magnet 143, switch arm 144, conductor 145, switch arm 146, contact When a signal is sent out by the manual apparatus, the circuit between the contacts 91 and 92 is as follows: contact 91, battery 147, switch arm 148, conductor 149, switch arm 150, conductor 151, switch arm 152, switch arm 153, gong 154, switch arm 155, switch arm 156, contact Q2.

The circuits between the contacts 53 and 54 and between 91 and 92 above described, are entirely independent, and when the system is in normal condition', automatic signals can be sent to the joker by the automatic central station apparatus, and to the gong by the manual transmission apparatus without in any way interfering with one another.

1n case either the gong circuit or the cker circuit is interrupted, so that it is necessary to use one et those circuits for transmitting signals to both the j oler apparatus and to the gong, this can be done and the automatic signal can be prevented from in any way interfering with the signal which is being manually transmitted. 1f the gong circuit is broken, the switch 153 and the three other switch arms connected thereto are thrown to the right, so as to engage the other contacts. The switch arms 14S and 156 are thrown downward and the switch 132 is closed. The closing of the switch .132, as before described short-circuits the contacts 53 and 54 as soon as the arm 110 is pulled. By the arrangement just referred to the automatic transmission apparatus is cut out, so e that as soon as manual transmission is begun, the automatic signal cannot break in upon the manual signal. With the switch. arms in the position just described, the circuit between the contacts S11 and 92 is as follows: contact 91, battery 147, switch arm 143, contact 157, coi'rdlu'ftor 153, reversing magnet 159, contact 1.61), contact 62. lilhenever the circuit just described is closed, the magnet 159 is encre" :ed, operating a reversing switch, the action bein to raise the contact 137 so that it disengages the contact 136 permitting that contact to maire engagement with the con tact 133 and at the same time engaging contact 134 and causing it to break engagement with coni act 133. This reverses the terminals of the battery 135, which is in series with the poteri/:ed relay 142 and the relay magnet 143. 'lhe relay magnet 143 is not atiected by this reversal, but the polarized relay 142 is so energized by the reversal that its armature 160 is withdrawn from the contact 161 and brought into engagement with the Contact 1 62. When the circuit at the contacts 111-592 is broken, the magnet 159 is denergized and the reversing switch being restored to its normal condition, the polarity of the battery is again reversed, which results in restoring the armature 16 to its former position in engagement with the contact 161. Nllhenever the :irmature engages the contact 162, a circuit is completed through the battery 163 and the gong magnet 154, the result being that the gong magnet 154 is energized so as to cause the gong to ring for every other rc-iversal of the battery 135. The gong is therefore rung by sending reversed currents over the joker circuit, which reversed currents, since they ai'lieet or actuate only the polar relay, do not the . tacts 53 and 54 is as follows: contact 53,

contacts 133 and 134,battery 135, contacts 136 and 137, conductor 138, switch arm 139, contact 164, conductor 149, switch arm 150, contact 166, relay magnet 143, polarized relay 142, contact 167, switch arm 152, switch arm 153, contacts 168 and 169, switch arm 155, contact 170, switch arm 146, contact 54. The opening and closing of the contacts 53 and 54 will thus energize and deenergize the relay magnet 143. As the magnet 143 is denergiaed, its armature 171 will engage the contact 172 and make and brealr the local circuit through the battery 163 and the joker magnet 173, thereby causing the joker bell to ring in accordance with the signal which is being automatically transmitted by the making and breaking ofthe contacts 53 and 54.

lhen a manual signal is being transmit- Vted from the parts in this direction, the circuit between the contacts 91 and 92 will be as follows: contact 91, battery 147, contact 157, conductor 158, reversing Amagnet 159, contact 160, switch arm 156, contact 92. From this it results that every time the circuit is made or broken by the contacts 91 and 92, the magnet 159 is energized and de energized so as to actuate the reversing switch heretofore described. This reverses the terminals of the battery 135, which are connected through the reversing switch and the switch arms 139 and 146 with the termi-` nals of the polarized relay 142, the circuit being easily traceableover the gong transmission lines. When the current energizing the polarized relay 142 is .reversed by the action of the reversing switch brought about by the engagement and disengagement of the contacts. 91 and 92, the polarized armature 160 is made to engage and disengage the contact 162, as described, thus putting the gong magnetv 154 alternately in circuit and out of circuit with the battery 163 and energizing it so as to cause it to ring the main gong. By. this means, in which reversing the currentis relied upon to ring the main gong whenever either the joker line or the gong line is'- temporarily or permanently disabled, I am again able'to provide a system in which the automatic signals are prevented from breaking in upon any signals which are being manually transmitted.

In Fig. 3, another arrangement oi circuits and contacts for controlling thecentral station magnet 16 isv shown. In this Figure, that magnet is designated by the numeral 1 6', and controlling contacts instead of being in series are in parallel. These contacts are normally out of engagement, with the result that the magnet 16 is normally denergized, instead of'being normally energized as in Fig. 1. The armature 174 is connected to the shaft 22 and is retracted by a spring 1.75,

Vwhich moves the shaft in the same direction in whichV it was moved by the magnetic attraction of the magnet 16 in Fig. 1.V The spring contacts 176 are on the outside face instead ci the inside Jface ci the arm 12 of Fig. 1 and engageA contacts 177 when they are retracted. the current of an alarm circuit is interrupted, contacts 176 and 177 are brought into engagement and the magnet 16 energized and its armature attracted, the armature being retracted as soon as the alarm circuit is conipleted and the engagement between the contacts 17 6 and 177 again broken. The armature 174 act-uates the contacts 53 and 54, producing the same results were attained .3y the series arrangement of Fig. 1.

1n Fig. 4, l have shown a niodiiication designed to be used in systems wherethere is no attendant at the central station and where the engine house apparatus and alarm sending apparatus are on one and the same circuit, and it is desired to repeat a signal sent in over one alarm circuit so that it may be impressed u on all other circuits. in order to accomplis this, 1 use the central station mechanism and circuits shown in Fig. 1, with the addition of two contacts 178 and 179, which are controlled by the lever 25. When the lever 25 is in normal condition, these contacts are held by it in engagement with one another. When the outer end ofthe lever 25isV lifted, the contacts 178 and 179 separate so as to break the circuit through the corresponding relay magnets A A2 4.3, and hence through the alarm circuit and the engine house gong. These contacts 178 and 179 are in parallel with ot ier contacts 180 and 181, which are controlled by anti-friction rollers at the upper end of the arin 21. These contacts 18() and 181 are normally closed, but are opened whenever the magnet 16 is denergized. As described in connection with Fig. 1, all the arms 12, with one exception, are automatically locked out of action and held out oi action by the rising oi the Jfour ends olil their respective levers 25. This results in the disengagement of the corresponding contacts 178 and 179, which throws the corresponding circuits under the control oi their contacts 180-181- Assuming that the relay A is the one whose arm 12 is not locked out oi position, it will be seen that the contacts 178-17 9 of that relay are held in engagement, because the lever 25 is kept from moving. rlhe arm 12 ot the relay A thus continues to vibrate and to open and close the circuit through the relay magnet 16, causing that magnet to hold its armature and the anti-friction rolls 55 connected thereto. Thisv movement opens and closes all the con# tacts v180-181 and thus repeats upon the idle combined alarm and engine house circuits 10 the alarm which is being transmitted .The result is that whenever Y upon the combined alarm circuit of the relay A.

Fig. 5 shows another modification, in which the shafts 22 and i6 are actuated by power mechanism which `,s electro-mecha: ically controlled` These shafts are provided with lever arms 183-184 the upper ends of which are anti-friction rollers 18E-186. These rollers are engaged by cams 1827-188, which are independently driven from some sources of power, 189 and 199. 191 and 192 are two spring retracted pawls controlled by magnets 198 and 194, these magnets corresponding respectively to the magnets 16 and 43 of Fig. 1. The arm 183 also carries one or more anti-friction rollers 195, one of which corresponds to the anti-friction roller 55 of Fig. 1. T he pawl 192 is normally drawn upward by the spring 196, so that its end is in the path of the outer pins 197 or projections on the cam. 188. The magnet 193 is normally energized and the pawl 191 is thereby normally held in engagement with one of the outer stops 197:1 on the cam 187, against the action of the spring 19621. l/'il rienever the iagnet 193 is deenergized, the pawl 191 is drawn downward by the spring 196% permitting pin 197Lnb to escape before the pawl 191 engages the next succeeding pin 19 a, so as to stop the cani. t

and engine house The cam thus revolves substantially one quarter of a revolution. When the magnet 193 is energized, the paivl 191 is drawn upward so as to lie in the path of the next succeeding pin 197 a, which stops the cam 187, after a very small portion of a revolution. The cam 188 is similarly controlled, except that it is released when the magnet 194 is energized and stepped when it is denergized, as is evident from the arrange-- ment of stops 19.7-198 shown in tho dra-iamgs. The results attained are substantially the same as those attained in Fig. 1 having the advantage, however, that the apparatus is in part actuated and reset by mechanical power instead of by elect 'ical power, which, in many instances, permits the attaining of greater certainty with less powerful electrical apparatus, and a smaller amount of electrical energy.

My invention permits of various other modifications and adaptations, sucli as will occur to those familiar with the art, and pei'- mits of the substitution of various equivalent devices for tliose which l have particularly shown and described and is, therefore, not limited to the precise construction or arrangement shown.

W hat l claim is:

1. In an alarm signal system, the combi` nation of a plurality of central station relays, a plurality of local circuits connected to said relays respectively, a repeating relay, a plurality of pairs of contacts controlled by the central station relays and in circuit with the winding ofthe repeating relay, locking levers, restraining paivls l'or said levers disengaged therefrom on the movement olE any ol' said pairs ot contacts from their normal position, said levers when disengaged by said pauls holding from movement any corresponding contacts thon in normal position, and mea s for holding. from movement the disengaged levers corresponding to any contacts not in normal position.

2. ln an alarm signal system, the combination of a relay having an armature, a pair of contacts brought into engagement and disengagement by the movements ol said armature at all times, a second pair ot contacts mounted so as to be brought into engagement and disengagement by the movements ol said armature when said second pairs are not rcstrained, aiid means lor restraining the relative movement ol said second pair ol contacts.

3. ln an alarm signal system, thc combination of a plurality ot central station relays, an armature lor each relay, a -first sct olI contacts for each armature brought into engagement or disengagement by any movement ot said armature, a second pair ol' contacts l'or each armature, as to which the armature is relatively lovable when said second contacts are restrained against movement, said armature acting to bring said second contacts into engagement or disengagement when not so restrained, recording circuits controlled by said i'irst pairs of contacts, and a repeating circuit controlled by said second pairs of cciitacts.

4,. ln an alarm signal. system, the combination of a plurality of central station relays, an arn'iatiii'e for each relay, a 'lirst set ol' contacts toi' each armature brought into engagement or disengagement by any movement ol said armature, a second pair ot contacts for each armature, as to which the armature is relatively movable when said second contacts are restrained against movement, said armature acting to bring said second contacts into engagement oi' disengagement when not so rest aincd, recording circuits controlled by said i'lrst pairs ol" contacts, a repeating circuit controlled by said second pairs of contacts, and means lor locking in normal position all of said second paii's of contacts which are in normal position when any one of said second pairs is out ol normal position.

5. In an alarm signal system, the combi nation of a plurality of local circuits con taining local alarm boxes C, a plurality ol central station relay magnets connected thereto, an armature for each central station relay niagnet, recording circuits controlled by said armatures respectively, a repeating circuit controlled by each one of said armatures independently, and means for taking the repeating circuit out ofthe control of the other armatures When themovement of any one armature has disturbed its `normal condition.

6. In an alarm signal system, the combination of a lurality of local alarmucircuits, a plurality o central station relays controlled thereby, a plurality of recording devices controlled by said main central relays respectively, a repeating relay controlled by all of' said central station relays, engine house circuits controlled by said repeating relay, and means for automatically locking the repeating relay circuit against control by all armatures eXce t any armature 'Whose movement has distur ed the normal conditions of said circuit.

7. In an alarm signal system,Y the combination of a lurality of local alarml circuits, a plurality o central station relays controlled thereby, a plurality of recording devices controlled by said main central relays respectively, a repeating relay controlled by all of said central station relays, engine house circuits controlled by said repeating relay, means for automatically locking the repeating relay circuit against control by all armatures, except any armature Whose movement has disturbed the normal conditions ol said circuit, and means for releasing the locking from time to time. j I v 8. In an alarm signal system, the combination of a plurality of local alarm circuits, a plurality of central station relays controlled thereby, a plurality of recording devices controled by said main central relays res ectively, a re eating relay controlled by a of said centra station relays, engine house circuits controlled by said y,repeating relay, means for automatically locking the repeating relay circuit against control by allarmatures except any armature Whose movement has disturbed the normal conditions of said circuit, and means for automaticaliyrestoring all parts to normal position from time to time. i 9. In an alarm signal system, the combination of a plurality of local alarm circuits, a plurality o central station relays controlled thereby, a plurality of recording devices controlled by said main central relays res ectively, a re eating relay controlled by a o said centra station relays, engine house circuits controlled by said repeating relay, means for automatically locking the repeating relay circuit against control by all armatures eXce t any armature Whose movement has distur edthe normal conditions of said circuit, resetting levers, a resetting magnet for actuating the same, and resetting contacts controlling said resetting magnet, and means for closing said resetting contacts from time to time.

10. In an alarm signal system, the combination of a plurality of local alarm circuits, a

plurality of central station relays controlled thereby, a plurality of recording devices controlled by said main central relays res ectively, a repeating relay controlled by all of said central station relays, engine house circuits controlled by said repeating relay, meansfor automatically locklng the repeating relay circuit against control by all armatureseXce t any armature Whose movement has distur ved the normal conditions of said circuit, resetting levers, a resetting magnet for actuating the same, and resetting contacts :controlling said resetting magnet, said resetting contacts being controlled by the recording means.

11. In'an alarm signal system, the combination of a plurality of central station relays having pivotally supported armatures 1 and contacts 5 6 controlled thereby, an independently movable arm 12 and contacts 14 15 controlled thereby, said arm 12 being adapted to be moved in one direction by the armature 1, recording circuits controlled by the contacts 5 6, arepeating circuit controlled by the contacts 14 15, and interlocking .mechanism acting on the arms 12.

12. VIn an alarm signal system, the combination of a plurality of central station relays havingpivotally supported armatures 1 and contacts 5 6 controlled thereby, an independently movable arm 12 and contacts 14 V15 controlled thereby, said arm 12 being adapted to be moved in one direction by the armature 1, recording circuits controlled by the contacts 5 6, a` repeating circuit controlled by the contacts 14 15, interlocking mechanism acting on the arms 12, and means'for resetting the interlocks.

13. In an alarm signal system, the combination of a plurality of central station relays having pivotally supported armatures 1 and contacts 5 6 controlled thereby, an independently movable arm 12 and contacts 14 15 controlled thereby, said arm 12 being adapted to be moved in one direction by the .armature 1, recording circuits controlled by the contacts 5 6, a repeating circuit controlled by the contacts 14 15, interlocking mechanism acting on the arms 12, and means for resetting the interlocks and restoring said arms 12 to normal osition. j 14.'.y In an alarm signalsystem, the combination of an automatic repeating relay, joker circuit contacts controlled thereby, a manual repeating apparatus, gong circuit contacts controlled thereby, a joker bell magnet, a jokercircuit controlled by said relay, a main gong magnet, a gong circuit controlled by saidl manual apparatus, and switches for operatively connectingl said gong magnet and gong circuit contacts to said joker circuit.

. 15., In an alarm signal system, the combination vof an automatic re eating relay, joker (circuit contacts controlle thereby, a manual repeating apparatus, gong circuit contacts controlled thereby, a joker bell magnet, a joker circuit controlled by said relay, a main gong magnet, a gong circuit controlled by said manual apparatus, and switches for operatively connecting said joker bell magnet and joker circuit contacts to said gong cir'- cuit.

i V16. In an alarm signal system, the combination of an automatic repeating relay, joker circuit contacts controlled thereby, a manual repeating apparatus, gong circuit contacts controlled thereby, a joker bell magnet, a joker circuit controlled by said relay, a main gong magnet, a gong circuit controlled by said manual apparatus, and switches for operatively connecting said gong magnet and gong circuit contacts to said joker circuit, and for connecting said joker bell magnet and joker contacts to said gong circuit as desired.

17. In an alarm signal system, the combination of an automatic re eatinfr relay, joker circuit contacts controlledp there y, a manual repeating apparatus, gong circuit contact-s controlled thereby,l a joker bell magnet, a joker circuit controlled by said relay, a main gong magnet, a gong circuit controlled by said manual apparatus, and means for automatically preventing the action of the automatic relay from interfering with signals sent by said manual apparatus when botli are connected to the same circuit.

1'8. In an alarm signal system, the combination of an automatic re eating relay, joker circuit contacts controlledJ thereby, a manu al repeating apparatus, gong circuit contacts controlled thereby, a joker bell magnet, a joker circuit controlled by said relay, a main gong magnet, a gong circuit controlled by saidy manual apparatus, switches for operatively connecting said joker bell magnet and joker circuit contacts to said gong circuit, and meansfor automatically preventing the action of the automatic relay from interfering with signals sent by said manual apparatus when both are connected to the same circuia 19. In an alarm signal system, the combination of an automatic repeating relay, joker circuit contacts controlled thereby, a manual repeating apparatus, gong circuit contacts controlled thereby,V a joker bell magnet, a i

joker circuit controlled by said relay, a main gon magnet, a gong circuit controlled by sai manual apparatus, svtches for operatively connecting said gong magnet and gong circuit contacts to said joker circuit and for connecting said joker bjell magnet and joker circuit contacts to said gong circuit as desired, and meansfor' automatically preventing the action of the' automatic relay from interfering with signals' sent by said manual apparatus when both are connected to the same circuit.

afi-Lore 20. In an alarm signal system, the combination of an automatic repeating relay, joker circuit contacts controlled thereby, a manual repeating apparatus, gong circuit contacts controlled thereby, a joker bell magnet, a joker circuit controlled by said relay, a main gong magnet, a gong circuit controlled by said manual apparatus, switches for operatively connecting said goiig magnet and gong circuit contacts to said joker circuit, and means for electrically cutting out signals sent by the automatic relay when the manual apparatus is in action.

21. In an alarm signal system, the combination of an automatic repeating relay, joker circuit contacts controlled thereby, a manual repeating apparatus, gong circuit contacts controlled thereby, a joker bell magnet, a joker circuit controlled by said relay, a main gong magnet, a gong circuit controlled by said manual apparatus, switches for operatively connecting said joker bell magnet and joker circuit contacts to said gong circuit, and mea-ns for electrically cutting out signals sent by the automatic relay when the manual apparatus is in action.

22. In an alarm signal system, the combination of an automatic repeating relay, joker circuit contacts controlled thereby, a manual repeating apparatus, gong circuit contacts controlled thereby, a joker bell magnet, a joker circuit controlled by said relay, a main gong magnet, a gong circuit controlled by said manual apparatus, switches for operatively connecting said gong magnet and gong circuit contacts to said joker circuit and for connecting said joker bell magnet and joker circuit contacts to said gong circuit as desired, and means for electrically cutting out signals sent by the automatic relay when the manual apparatus is in action.

23. In an alarm signal system, the combination of an automatic relay magnet, joker circuit contacts controlled thereby, a manual transmission apparatus, gong circuit coiitacts controlled thereby, a joker magnet, a

,- joker circuit, a gong magnet, a gong circuit,

switches for connecting the gong magnet and gong circuit contacts to the joker circuit, a

polarized relay controlling one of the bell magnets, and means for reversing the current in said relay when the manual apparatus is actuated with the gong contacts operatively connected to the joker circuit or with the joker contacts operatively connected to the gong circuit.

24. In an alarm sigiialsysteni, the combination of a plurality of central station relays, an armature for each relay, a first set of coiitacts for eacli armature brought into engagement or disengagement by any movement oi said armature, a second pair of contacts for I each armature, as to which the armature is relatively movable when said second contacts are restrained against movement, said armature acting to bring said second contacts into engagement or disengagement When not so restrained, recording circuits controlled by said first airs of contacts, a repeating circuit contro led by said second pairs of contacts, means for restoringeacli of said second pair ofcontacts to normal position When the magnetic condition of said relay is other than normal for a considerable period, and paWls adapted to retain any pair of contacts 1n normal position Wlien restored during such a period, said armatures acting to Withdraw said pawls When the magnetic condition oi said relays again becomes normal.

25. In an alarm signal system, the combination of a plurality of central station relays, an armature for each relay, a first set of contacts Jfor each armature brought into engagement or disengagement by any movement of said armature, a second pair of contacts for each armature, as to which the armature is relatively movable When said second contacts are restrained against movement, said armature acting to bring said second contacts into engagement or disengagement When not so restrained, recording circuits controlled by said iirst pairs of contacts, a repeating circuit controlled by said second pairs o'l' contacts, means for restoring each of said second pair of contacts to normal position When said relays become denergized for a considerable period, and paWls adapted to retain any of said pairs in normal position when restored during such a period, said armatures acting to Withdraw said paWls When the relays again become energized.

WILLIAM H. KIRNAN. Witnesses: H. B. BROWNELL,

A. MonFoRD. 

